Whether you decide to stay home or go away, there is so much to look forward to in college! Meeting new people, being exposed to new things, living in a new environment, and going on adventures with those new friends are just a few. There will be many highs and many lows and you need to take them as they come.

Enjoy every minute of the good and the bad, because those moments will form stories on the pages in your book of life.

Going away was the best decision I could've ever made for myself for several reasons. Even though I love to be close to my family and friends, I needed to escape the bubble. I'm sure many of you can relate, being that many towns across the U.S. have their "bubbles." I'm happy to say that I'm the only person from my graduating class of 300 to attend the University of Rhode Island.

This doesn't negate the depression and extreme sadness I felt when I parted ways with my girl friends... but it has pushed me to be my own person and form new connections without relying on others. I've overcome boundaries, tried new things, and made my own decisions that would benefit me as a person...and it's truly the best feeling!

I've met so many amazing people in my first year alone. Teachers, friends, classmates. And as much as I love being home for the summer, all the memories I made and bonds I formed my freshman year make me even more excited to go back in the fall than I was to start my college journey! It's really amazing that I'm just three-and-a-half hours away from my home on Long Island getting an education and making memories with people from a range of different states. The beauty of going away is that you develop relationships with guys and girls whom you never would've met if you didn't take the leap.

Going to a university with over 15,000 students was (and still is) all I've ever wanted and more! I don't feel like a small fish in a large pond. I don't feel like I'm just a number. I feel like I'm making a name for myself, by joining a sorority, participating in class and attending events at my university. College is what you make of it! You can sit in your dorm and watch Netflix when you're ready to go to sleep... GET UP AND MAKE MEMORIES EVERY CHANCE YOU HAVE!! Every waking moment is one that should be spent having fun with people you enjoy being around. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Take risks. And say YES (or no, depending on the situation). Everyone has their weirdos, and let me tell you...I'm so freakin' happy that I found mine.

(And if a friend passes you a joint, take the hit and enjoy the feeling — it'll make for another story for your book of life.)

College As Told By Junie B. Jones

The Junie B. Jones series was a big part of my childhood. They were the first chapter books I ever read. On car trips, my mother would entertain my sister and me by purchasing a new Junie B. Jones book and reading it to us. My favorite part about the books then, and still, are how funny they are. Junie B. takes things very literally, and her (mis)adventures are hilarious. A lot of children's authors tend to write for children and parents in their books to keep the attention of both parties. Barbara Park, the author of the Junie B. Jones series, did just that. This is why many things Junie B. said in Kindergarten could be applied to her experiences in college, as shown here.

When Junie B. introduces herself hundreds of times during orientation week:

“My name is Junie B. Jones. The B stands for Beatrice. Except I don't like Beatrice. I just like B and that's all." (Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, p. 1)

When she goes to her first college career fair:

"Yeah, only guess what? I never even heard of that dumb word careers before. And so I won't know what the heck we're talking about." (Junie B. Jones and her Big Fat Mouth, p. 2)

When she thinks people in class are gossiping about her:

“They whispered to each other for a real long time. Also, they kept looking at me. And they wouldn't even stop." (Junie B., First Grader Boss of Lunch, p. 66)

When someone asks her about the library:

“It's where the books are. And guess what? Books are my very favorite things in the whole world!" (Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, p. 27)

When she doesn't know what she's eating at the caf:

“I peeked inside the bread. I stared and stared for a real long time. 'Cause I didn't actually recognize the meat, that's why. Finally, I ate it anyway. It was tasty...whatever it was." (Junie B., First Grader Boss of Lunch, p. 66)

Things I Miss Now That I'm Home From College Again

So, school is over now and I've come home. As expected I was so relieved at first. No more showering with flip-flops, no more listening to screaming girls running up and down the hall, and a space that is mine and mine alone. But after a week or so of being back, there are a few things I've already started to miss.

I know that not every single person has the ideal roommate but I got really lucky with mine. Coming home I was excited to have my own space, but now when I'm doing my midnight scrolling, I'm realizing that I miss being able to talk to her about the funny things I see in that very moment. Tagging, DMing, and texting her doesn't feel the same as a long night of giggles spent together.

Also, while seeing old friends when you get home is amazing, and there is always a lot to catch up on, you do start to miss your other friends too. Being in college means that your friends are going through similar things as you are all the time. You have tests together, clubs together, and sometimes you spend way too much time procrastinating together. The bond you begin to form is one you definitely begin to miss - especially when you guys don't live close off of campus.

Coming home also means you don't have a set schedule or at least not immediately. You may come back to a previous job and that puts something on your calendar, but the free time you still have during the week can be a little too much. I know I've spent way too much time obsessing over the Tati/James drama than I ever would have at school. The routine I had at school kept me busy and entertained, and I'm honestly missing it a lot right now.

There are a lot of other things to miss too - even things you thought you wouldn't. You miss the classes, the teachers, and sometimes the food. I know I miss the environment. It isn't a perfect one, but it's full of people just trying to find their way. We are all working through the roller coaster of life and we are all stuck on one beautiful campus together while we figure it all out. I miss meeting new people at the bus stops or running into old classmates and catching up.

I guess the bonus for me is that I just finished sophomore year which means I have more time to spend at school. Come senior year, I guess I'll have to learn quickly how to deal without the things I miss - and also create a schedule so I can travel to see all of my friends, but those are all problems for future me.